The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Betsy Mitchell inducted into Southwest Conference Hall of Fame
08.16.2022 | Women's Swimming and Diving
Longhorn Great Betsy Mitchell was one of eight inductees for the 2022 class.
WACO, Texas – Former Texas swimmer and Longhorn Legend Betsy Mitchell was inducted into the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame on Tuesday as part of the Class of 2022.
Mitchell, a Cincinnati, Ohio native, was a seven-time individual NCAA champion, two-time NCAA relay champion and a 20-time All-American who helped guide Texas to three NCAA team titles in 1986, 1987, and 1988. In 1986, she established a world record in the 200 LCM backstroke that stood for five years, with her American record holding for 19 years. A two-time finalist of the Honda Sport Award for Swimming and Diving, winning in 1987-88, Mitchell was named the 1980's Southwest Conference Swimmer of the Decade.
She twice represented the United States in the Olympics. At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, she won silver in the 100-meter backstroke at and earned gold swimming the backstroke leg in the preliminary heats of the 4×100-meter medley relay. She earned a second silver medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, swimming the backstroke in the women's 4×100-meter medley relay in the preliminary heats, and also placed fourth in the final of the 100-meter backstroke.
Mitchell went on to be inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor in 2000. In 2021, she was selected by the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association's (CSCAA) as one of the 100 Greatest Men's and Women's Swimmers & Divers of the past century in celebration of the CSCAA's 100th year.
The Southwest Conference Hall of Fame is one of four separate halls of fame housed within the Texas Sports Hall of Fame's physical structure. They include the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame, the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and now, the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame.
2022 Southwest Conference Hall of Fame Class
Ben Crowins – University of Arkansas – Football
Santana Dotson – Baylor University – Football
Danny Davis – University of Houston – Football
Kareem Streete Thompson – Rice University – Track & Field
Putt Choate – Southern Methodist University – Football
Betsy Mitchell – University of Texas – Swimming
Greg Hill – Texas A&M – Football
Carven Holcombe – Texas Christian University – Basketball
Maury Buford – Texas Tech University – Football
